This is a crazy time in real estate. It’s spring here in NW PA, interest rates are low, and it’s close enough to the end of the school year that buyers who have to work around kids in school feel comfortable moving forward with…well, moving. If you’re thinking about buying a home, you might find out that several other people are doing the same thing…and a few of them might just be thinking about buying the same home you have your eye on.

I heard that growl. It’s frustrating. And you want to be mad. And you saw it first…or last…or something. All you know is you want it. So if you want to up your chances of getting it, here’s a few simple rules I tell my clients.

1. Put your best foot forward. This is the time to get down-and-dirty serious about what is and is not important. This isn’t the time to go in low and see what happens. Whatever you have that’s to your advantage – closing time, purchase price, etc. – use it. There is absolutely no guarantee that these sellers are going to come back to you with a counteroffer, so you need to go in strong.

2. Write a letter to the seller. It’s common for us humans to make decisions emotionally and then justify them logically. The sales agreement is a standard form that lays out terms but doesn’t really tell the seller about you. If you’re comfortable with this then write a letter explaining why you think this house is the perfect house for you, and all of the reasons you would love to live there. The more personal the letter, the more connection you possibly gain.

3. No regrets. There’s no promise that the first two steps will work. I can tell you stories of where they made a difference, and I can also tell you stories of where it all came down to something out of our control. The goal is to go into a multiple offer situation saying “If the sellers don’t take THIS, they won’t take anything, and we will go find something else.” No regrets. Nothing left on the table.

Again, every situation is different, and you should always talk with a licensed agent to make sure that your actions are the best for your particular situation, but these are the three things I tell my clients when they’re trying to “win”.

On any given day I’m a full time real estate agent, momma and chief wrangler of two kids and two dogs, married to a guy who essentially hunts and fishes for a living, and happy residing on the outskirts of Erie, PA. Sometimes I fool myself into thinking I have superpowers, except my cape is usually in the laundry…I hope. It’s all in a day’s work.

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